Dispensing container having a rotatable closure member



Nov. 30, 1965 B. c. WHITTIER 3,220,620

DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A ROTATABLE CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Dec. 16, 1963 FIGZ INVENTOR BERNARD C WHITTIER BY M4 464.454 aw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,229,620 DHSPENSING (IGNTAINER HAVING A ROTAT- ABLE CLOSURE MEMBER Bernard C. Whittier, Ridgewood, N .J assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 330,950 Claims. (Cl. 222537) This invention relates to dispensing containers and, more particularly, to a container for dispensing pills, tablets or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved dispensing container for packaging and merchandising tablets, pills or the like wherein said container includes an improved closure for dispensing the contents of the container.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a container and closure for packing and merchandising tablets, pills, or the like and having improved means for dispensing the tablets without necessitating removal of the closure.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a container and closure for packaging and merchandising tablets, etc. and having improved means for dispensing the tablets without necessitating the removal of the closure and in which the closure is movable between a dispensing position for dispensing the contents of the container and a closed position sealing the container.

In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects, an important feature of the invention resides in the employment of a container formed with an elongated cylindrical neck having a dispensing notch extending through the side wall. A closure fitment including a cylindrical sleeve-like member is fitted over and retained on the neck by the coaction of a retaining ring on the neck and a retaining ring formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve. A dispensing opening in the side wall of the cylindrical sleeve member may be brought into alignment with the opening in the neck of the container to dispense tablets or the like from within the container, or moved to a position radially spaced from the openings in the neck by rotating the sleeve, thereby sealing the container, A fiange is integrally formed with the sleeve andextends outwardly and upwardly from a position below the dispensing opening in the sleeve to form a pouring spout.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a dispensing container according to the present invention showing the closure fitment in the closed or sealed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of the FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the closure fitment in the open or dispensing position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a container according to the invention with the closure fitment removed; and

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a container according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and is preferably formed by molding from a suitable plastic material such as poly- 3,220,620 Patented Nov. 30, 1965 ethylene. Container 10 is preferably formed with a nonround body portion 11 and a neck 12 (see FIG. 6) having a circular cross section. A pair of oppositely disposed dispensing notches 14, 16 extend downwardly from the top rim 18 of neck 12. Notches 14, 16 are positioned symmetrically on the minor diameter of the generally elliptical container. A retaining ring or bead 20 is formed around the surface of neck 12 at a position intermediate the bottom of notches 14, 16 and the top 22 of container body portion 11.

A molded plastic closure member, indicated generally at 24, is formed with a central, generally cylindrical, sleeve 26 having one end closed by an inwardly extending, generally cone shaped, end panel 28. Sleeve 26 has an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of neck 12, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and is adapted to fit over and closely engage neck 12, with end panel 28 engaging the top rim 18 of neck 12, as at 30 (see FIG. 3). A closure retaining ring or groove 32 is formed around the inner surface of sleeve 26 and positioned to engage bead 20 to releasably retain closure 24 on neck 12 While permitting relative rotation therebetween as illustrated in FIG. 4. A tablet dispensing opening 34 is provided in the side Wall of sleeve 26 in position to be moved into overlying relation with notch 14 or notch 16 in neck 12 upon rotation of sleeve 26 with respect to neck 12. The inner surface of sleeve 26 includes a pair of oppositely disposed protrusions 40 and 42 each spaced from opening 34. Protrusions 40, 42 are adapted to project into notches 14, 16, respectively to resiliently retain the closure against rotation when the closure is in the closed position and opening 34 is spaced from notches 14, 16.

A flange 44, integrally formed with sleeve 26, supports a skirt 46 in spaced concentric relation to sleeve 26. Skirt 46 has a substantially elliptical cross section, similar to the cross section of container 10 as is best seen in FIG. 4, and is positioned with respect to sleeve 26 so that dispensing opening 34 is positionedon the major diameter of the skirt, and protrusions 40, 42 are positioned on the minor diameter. Flange 44 is inclined downwardly from the top periphery 48 of skirt 46 to intersect the outersurface of sleeve 26 to form a pouring spout 50 as shown in FIG. 5.

From the above it can be seen that a container according to the present invention may be employed for packaging articles such as tablets, pills, or the like for shipping, and which may readily be employed to dispense the contents of the container without the necessity of removing the closure from the bottle. The articles are placed in the container through the open neck in the usual manner, and the closure 24 is snapped into position by thecoaction of bead 2t) and groove 32 to sealingly close the opening in the bottle as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Also, the closure is resiliently retained against rotation from this closed position by protrusions 40, 42 projecting radially into notches 14 and 16, respectively in container neck 12.

To dispense articles from the container, sleeve 26 is rotated with respect to the neck 12 by manually grasping skirt 46 and turning it to force protrusions 40, 42 out of notches 14, 16 and align opening 34 with one of the notches 14, 16 in neck 12. Articles may then be dis pensed through the aligned openings as shown in FIG. 5, with flange 44 acting as a pouring spout, and also serving to facilitate replacement of excess articles which may inadvertently be dispensed. The conical shaped endpanel 28 contacting the upper lip 18 of neck 12 lends lateral support to arcuate neck portions 52, 54 to prevent undue bending of these portions due to force exerted radially inwardly by protrusions 40, 42 upon rotation of sleeve 26.

As is readily seen from FIG. 4 of the drawings, in the case of a container and closure member having a cross section that is non-round, the relative positions of the container and closure may be employed to indicate whether the closure is in the opened or closed position.

While I have disclosed and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto, but that I do intend to cover all embodiments thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A molded plastic container for packaging and dispensing tablets comprising a body portion having a noncircular cross section and a neck portion having a circular cross section, said body portion cross section having a first dimension substantially greater than a second dimension taken at right angles to said first dimension, a pair of notches formed in the wall of said neck and extending from the open end thereof, said notches being positioned one on each side of said neck in the vertical plane of said second dimension, a'closure retaining ring extending around the outer surface of said neck, a closure member including a cylindrical sleeve adapted to fit over and engage the outer surface of said neck and having one end closed by an inwardly concave end panel, the inner surface of said end panel projecting into and engaging the open end of said neck to lend radial support thereto when said closure is installed on said container, an annular closure retaining ring extending around the inner surface of said sleeve in position to engage said ring on said neck to resiliently retain said closure on said neck while permitting relative rotation therebetween, a dispensing opening formed in the wall of said sleeve, means rotating said sleeve between a dispensing position wherein said dispensing opening overlies one of said notches and a sealed position wherein said opening is radially displaced from said notches, said means for rotating said sleeve including a skirt having a non-circular cross section similar to the cross section of said container formed around and spaced from said cylindrical sleeve in coaxial relation therewith with the greater dimension of said skirt passing through the dispensing opening in said sleeve, and flange means integrally formed on said cylindrical sleeve supporting said skirt in said spaced coaxial relation, said flange extending from said cylindrical sleeve at a point below said opening to the top of said skirt to form a pouring spout.

2., The invention according to claim 1 including a radially inwardly projection protrusion formed in the inner surface of said sleeve to engage one of said notches when said sleeve is rotated to said closed position to resiliently retain said closure against rotation, said projection being positioned along the smaller dimension of said skirt whereby when said closure is in the closed position the greater dimension of the skirt and containers will be in a common plane to clearly indicate the closed condition of the container.

3. A container for packaging and dispensing articles comprising; a body portion, a neck portion having a circular cross section and including a dispensing opening in the side wall thereof, a closure retaining ring extending around the outer surface of said neck, a closure member including a sleeve having a circular cross-section and adapted to fit over and engage the outer surface of said neck, said sleeve having one end closed by an inwardly concave end panel having an inner surface engaging the rim of said neck to lend radial support thereto when said closure member is installed on said container, an annular closure retaining ring extending around the inner surface of said sleeve in position to engage said closure retaining ring on said neck and cooperate therewith to retain said closure on said neck while permitting relative rotation therebetween, means for rotating said sleeve relative to said neck including a skirt extending around said cylindrical sleeve in coaxial spaced relation thereto and a flange integrally formed on said sleeve supporting said skirt in said spaced coaxial relation, a dispensing opening formed in the wall of said sleeve and movable upon rotation of said sleeve between a dispensing position wherein the dispensing openings in said neck and in said sleeve are substantially aligned and a sealing position wherein said openings are displaced from one another, said flange on said sleeve extending therefrom at a point below the dispensing opening therein to the top of said skirt to form a pouring spout, and an inwardly projecting protrusion formed on the inner surface of said sleeve in position to project into and engage the edges of the dispensing opening in said neck when said sleeve is in said sealing position to resiliently retain said sleeve against rotation on said neck.

4. A molded plastic container for packaging and dispensing articles comprising a body portion, a neck portion having a circular cross section, a dispensing opening formed in the side wall of said neck, a closure retaining ring extending around the outer surface of said neck, a closure member including a sleeve having a circular cross section adapted to fit over and engage the outer surface of said neck, said sleeve having one end closed by an integrally formed end panel, an annular closure retaining ring formed around the inner surface of said sleeve in position to engage said closure retaining ring on said neck and cooperate therewith to retain said closure on said neck while permitting relative rotation therebetween, a dispensing opening formed in the Wall of said sleeve, means for rotating said sleeve with respect to said neck between a dispensing position wherein said openings in said neck and in said sleeve are substantially aligned and a sealing position wherein said openings are displaced from one another, said means for rotating said sleeve including a skirt extending around said sleeve in coaxial spaced relation thereto and a flange integrally formed around said sleeve supporting said skirt in said spaced coaxial relation, said flange extending from said sleeve at a point below the dispensing opening therein to the top of said skirt to form a pouring spout for directing articles from said dispensing opening over the top of said skirt, and a protrusion formed on the inner surface of said sleeve in position to engage said dispensing opening in said neck when said sleeve is in said sealing position to resiliently resist rotation of said sleeve with respect to said neck.

5. A container for packaging and dispensing articles comprising; a body portion, a neck portion having a circular cross section and including a dispensing opening in the side wall thereof, said opening being in the form of a notch extending downwardly from the open end of said neck, a closure member including a sleeve having a circular cross-section and adapted to fit over and engage the outer surface of said neck, said sleeve having one end closed by an inwardly concave end panel having an inner surface engaging the rim of said cylindrical neck to lend radial support thereto when said closure member is installed on said container, an inwardly directed protrusion formed on the inner surface of said sleeve engaging and applying a radial force to said neck to resist rotation between said container and said closure, means on said neck and said sleeve to retain said closure on said neck with said end panel in engagement with said rim while permitting relative rotation therebetween, a dispensing opening formed in the wall of said sleeve and movable upon rotation of said sleeve between a dispensing position wherein said dispensing openings in said neck and in said sleeve are substantially aligned and a sealing position wherein said openings are displaced from one another, said protrusion being positioned to project into said opening in said neck to resiliently retain said closure against rotation when said closure is in said sealing position.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Bar 222553 X Wolff -2--- 222553 X Hicks 222-553 Burke 222-553 6 2,171,727 9/1955 Robb 222553 X 2,765,956 10/1956 Schmidtke 222-553 X 2,889,081 6/1959 Spencer 222553 X 5 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner. 

1. A MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING TABLETS COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVING A NONCIRCULAR CROSS SECTION AND A NECK PORTION HAVING A CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, SAID BODY PORTION CROSS SECTION HAVING A FIRST DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN A SECOND DIMENSION TAKEN AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID FIRST DIMENSION, A PAIR OF NOTCHES FORMED IN THE WALL OF SAID NECK AND EXTENDING FROM THE OPEN END THEREOF, SAID NOTCHES BEING POSITIONED ONE ON EACH SIDE OF SAID NECK IN THE VERTICAL PLANE OF SAID SECOND DIMENSION, A CLOSURE RETAINING RING EXTENDING AROUND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID NECK, A CLOSURE MEMBER INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE ADAPTED TO FIT OVER AND ENGAGE THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID NECK AND HAVING ONE END CLOSED BY AN INWARDLY CONCAVE END PANEL, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID END PANEL PROJECTING INTO AND ENGAGING THE OPEN END OF SAID NECK TO LEND RADIAL SUPPORT THERETO WHEN SAID CLOSURE IS INSTALLED ON SAID CONTAINER, AN ANNULAR CLOSURE RETAINING RING EXTENDING AROUND THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE IN POSITION TO ENGAGE SAID RING ON SAID NECK TO RESILIENTLY RETAIN SAID CLOSURE ON SAID NECK WHILE PERMITTING RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN, A DISPENSING OPENING FORMED IN THE WALL OF SAID SLEEVE, A MEANS ROTATING SAID SLEEVE BETWEEN A DISPENSING POSITION WHEREIN SAID DISPENSING OPENING OVERLIES ONE OF SAID NOTCHES AND A SEALED POSITION WHEREIN SAID OPENING IS RADIALLY DISPLACED FROM SAID NOTCHES, SAID MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SLEEVE INCLUDING A SKIRT HAVING A NON-CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION SIMILAR TO THE CROSS SECTION OF SAID CONTAINER FORMED AROUND AND SPACED FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE IN COAXIAL RELATION THEREWITH WITH THE GREATER DIMENSION OF SAID SKIRT PASSING THROUGH THE DISPENSING OPENING IN SAID SLEEVE, AND FLANGE MEANS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON SAID CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE SUPPORTING SAID SKIRT IN SAID SPACED COAXIAL RELATION, SAID FLANGE EXTENDING FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE AT A POINT BELOW SAID OPENING TO THE TOP OF SAID SKIRT TO FORM A POURING SPOUT. 